Fair Housing

Lake County promotes fair housing and seeks to comply with all federal and state housing laws, ordinances, and executive orders. Lake County recognizes and appreciates the value of a diverse population. This diversity can only be maintained and expanded if all individuals have equal access to a broad range of housing in thriving communities. The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice was a multi-faceted study performed to provide Lake County stakeholders with a description of the resident population and identify both existing impediments to fair housing choice and potential actions to address the identified impediments. The Lake County Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice was adopted by the Lake County Board on November 11, 2014.

Lake County seeks to comply with the existing laws and executive orders that define protected classes for housing in Lake County which include:

Federal

Age Discrimination Act of 1975

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Architectural Barriers Act of 1968

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Executive Order 11063, 12892, 13166

Housing and Community Development Act of 1974

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

State

Illinois Human Rights Act

Population of Protected Classes

“Protected class” is defined as a group of people who are protected from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation as a result of their membership in that group. Although most anti-discrimination laws were initially passed in response to the unfair treatment of racial minorities, every person is a member of at least one protected class and therefore entitled to protection under the law.

For Lake County, these protected classes are as follows:

Race and color

Gender

Age

Religion

Physical and mental disability

National origin and ancestry

Sexual orientation

Marital status

Military status and Unfavorable Military Discharge

Familial status

Victims of sexual harassment

Individuals with orders of protection (for victims of domestic violence)

Real Estate Transactions

Please note that residential real estate-related transactions protected by the Fair Housing Act, per the Federal Housing Administration include the following:

The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance

for purchasing, construction, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling; or

secured by residential real estate

The selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real property

The Illinois Human Rights Act states that real estate transactions include the sale, exchange, rental or lease of real property.